Infant feeding apparatus



May 17, 1966 H. L. MARTIN INFANT FEEDING APPARATUS 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Howard L. Mclrrin fl n 14% d. ho

Filed Feb. 15, 1964 ATTORNEY May 17, 1966 H. L. MARTIN INFANT. FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 13, 1964 INVENTtOR Howard L. Marhn ATTORNEY Fig.8

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United States Patent 3,251,626 INFANT FEEDING APPARATUS Howard L. Martin, 2011 Bradford Drive, Arlington, Tex.

Filed Feb. 13, 1964, Ser. No. 344,585 3 Claims. (Cl. 27188) The present invention relates generally to an infant feeding apparatus, and more particularly, to an apparatus for bottle feeding infants without the necessity of an adult holding the bottle for or constantly attending the infant throughout the feeding period.

Apparatus have been devised for aiding in the feeding of infants in order to relieve the mother or nurse of this time consuming necessity, but none have been provided which closely simulate the act of an adult physically holding the infant and the bottle of milk inthe proper feeding position, the proper feeding position being the head elevated above the stomach. A major step in this direction has been the provision of the infant seat which is now used by the majority of mothers with new born babies for seating the infant in the proper feeding position. The infant seat is widely known and simply comprises an all plastic seat affair having a bottom, backand sides for partially enclosing the baby in the proper sitting position. Most of the infant seats on the market are provided with a simple stand so that the infant seat can be placed in an upright-position on a table so that the mother does not have to hold the infant seat.

Although the infant seat relieves the attendant of holding the baby while feeding, the bottle still has to be held in the babys mouth during the feeding. The present invention, however, takes advantage of the infant seat which was primarily devised for infant feeding and carrying, by combining therewith an adjustable holder for a babys milk bottle so that the infant can be fed without the necessity of an adult holding the bottle while feeding, and obviates the necessity for the constant attendance throughout the feeding period. Thus, the invention provides many advantages heretofore unattainable by providing the combination of a specially designed infant seat for holding the baby in the proper position, wherein the baby is not allowed to crawl about and away from the bottle, and a holder for the baby bottle in such a position that the baby ,is fed under-conditions which very nearly, if not exactly, simulate the feeding by a person. The advantages of such an apparatus thus becomes obvious in relieving the mother to do other household chores while her baby or infant is being given nourishment.

There are other objects, features and advantages that -wi-ll become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the appended claims and the attached drawing wherein like reference numerals refer to'like parts throughout the several figures, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a pictorial view of one embodiment of the invention showing the combination of an infant seat and a holder for a baby bottle;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the infant seat and holder 0f FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view, partly in section, taken along lines 3-3 of FIGURE 2, showing in more detail the manner in which the holder is attached to the infant seat;

FIGURE 4 is a cutaway side view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 5 is a view, partly in section, taken along lines 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a pictorial view of yet another embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 7 is an expanded view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 6;

ICE.

FIGURE 8 is a side view of a bracket attached to one side of the infant seat as used in the embodiment of FIG- URE 6;

FIGURE 9 is a view, partly in section, taken across lines 9-9 of FIGURE 8.showing in more detail the bracket and holding arm used in the embodiment of FIG- URE 6;

FIGURE 10 is a View, partly in section, taken across lines 10-10 of FIGURE 9 showing in more detail the bracket and how the arm is engaged therewith;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary plan view of the bottle holding arms illustrating the use of a swivel joint;

FIGURE 12 is a side view of the swivel joint of FIG- URE 11; and

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary pictorial view of the bottle holding apparatus shown in FIGURE 6 in the collapsed position for storing when not in use.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, there is shown an infant seat 4 of conventional design having a slot 8 provided in one of the sides thereof which extends approximately parallel to the back of the infant seat. A first arm 10 is held to the infant seat by means of a tightening nut 12 to be described in more detail below. The arm 10, as shown, projects beyond the front edge of the side to which it is attached. Another arm 14 having a ball 16 integral with one end thereof is contained within and forms a part of a swivel joint with the extreme end of arm 10 between jaws 18 and 19 of arm 10, so that the arm 14 can be swiveled relative to arm 10 to practically any desired position. A clamp 20 which provides spring action and of a size suitable for holding a baby bottle is provided at the other end of arm 14 and holds a baby bottle 22, as shown. When the infant is placed in the seat in a sitting position, the bottle is swung around to the position shown for feeding, suitable adjustments being made by sliding the arm 10 up and down in the slot 8 and swiveling the arm 14 relative to arm 10 to properly place the bottle nipple in the babys mouth. Lateral adjustment is made by sliding the bottle forward or aft in the clamp 20.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, which is a side view of the arm and seat shown in FIGURE 1, and FIGURE 3, which is a view, partly in section, taken along lines 3-3 of FIGURE 2, it can be seen that a threaded bolt 28 having a head 26 and a square shoulder 24 is inserted through the slot 8 of the infant seat 4. The arm 10 is provided with a hole in the end thereof and is slipped over the end of the bolt, whereby a tightening nut 12 having a threaded recessed portion 32 is screwed securely on the bolt against the arm 10. The square shoulder 24 of the bolt prevents any rotation of the bolt within the slot 8. By simply tightening the nut 12 against the arm 10, the arm is held in any desired position, and by loosening the nut, the arm can be raised or lowered in the slot to the desired location. To prevent any possible rotation of the bottle holding arm about the bolt 28 when the nut 12 is tightened, a rubber or other resilient friction washer 29 is provided in the arm 1t) and is compressed between the arm 10 and side of the infant seat 4. Thus, the arm is held out in front of the seat as shown in FIGURE 1 and in solid lines of FIGURE 2 when feeding is desired, and is rotated and held in a downward or folded condition as shown in dashed lines of FIGURE 2 when not in use.

At the end of arm 10 which projects beyond the front edge of the side of the seat to which it is attached is a swivel joint comprised of two opposing clamp portions 18 and 19 between which the end of arm 14 is held, the clamp portion 19 being integral with the arm 10. The end of the arm 14 which is held between the two elamp portions comprises a ball 16 which forms a part of the swivel joint, wherein the two clamp portions are re- 'cessed for the ball to swivel therewithin.

-for sliding relation therein.

At the other end of arm 14 remote from the swivel joint, there is provided a bottle clamp for holding a baby bottle 22 as shown. The clamp provides spring action for holding the bottle, whereby the bottleis inserted through the gap 23 ,by a gentle pushing action. The swivel joint will be described later in more detail with reference to another embodiment, but it can be seen that by raising or lowering the arm 10 within the slot 8, by swiveling the arm 14 vwith respect to arm 10, and by moving the bottle 22 in and out of the clamp 20, practically any position of the bottle can beobtained.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG- URE 4 and FIGURE 5, wherein a bracket 34 is bolted or otherwise fixed to the side of the infant seat 4, and the holding arm 10 is slidably engaged with the bracket.

For certain manufacturing considerations, it may be more desirable to simply provide the side of the infant seat with holes 33 and 33 so that the bracket can bemoved forward or aft for course adjustment. The bracket 34 has shoulders 35 and 36-which define a slot therebetween, and a member 37 is engaged in sliding relation within the slot and contains a threaded bolt 38 which projects beyond the bracket. The arm 10 is slipped over the bolt as before, and a tightening nut 12 is used to secure the arm 10 in the desired position. Again, a friction washer 29 can be used if desired.

Referring now to FIGURE 6, another embodiment of the invention is shown with the bottle holding arms oriented in the functional position for feeding an infant. Another bracket 40 is attached to the side of the infant seat by suitable means such as bolts 42 and 44, and an arm 56 is held at one end thereof within, the bracket by means to be described hereinafter. Referring now to FIGURE 7, there is shown an expanded View of the embodiment of FIGURE 6 illustrating the details of the bottle holder and its functional arrangement in cooperation with the infant seat.

The bracket 40 is attached to one side of the infant seat 4 by any suitable means, such as bolts or other fastening devices. The infant seat of FIGURE 7 is shown with holes 41 and 43 provided in one side thereof with additional holes on either side of -or grooves 46 and 47 on its two sides along its length,

and also with slots 48 and 49 defined by the back of the .bracket and lips 48' and 49', respectively, extending inward from the toothed sections. A member 50 having lateral flanges 52 and 53 is dovetailed into 'the slots of the bracket 40 for up and down sliding relation therewithin. The member 50 is also provided with a threaded bore 54 to be presently described. A first arm 56-having an enlarged end 58 and an integral knob section 60 with a bore 62 provided therein is positioned against the member 50 after the latter is inserted within the slots of the bracket. A threaded pin. 64 having a large diameter portion 65 and a small diameter portion 66 separated therefrom by shoulder 67 is inserted within the bore 62 of arm 56 after a holding spring 68 is slipped about the small diameter portion 66. The pin 64 is threaded into the bore 54 of the sliding member 50 to hold the arm 56 in place.

FIGURE 8 is a side view of. the bracket and arm, and FIGURE 9 is a view, partly in section, taken along lines 99 of FIGURE 8 showing in more detail the functional arrangement of the arm and the bracket. Referring specifically to FIGURE 9, it can be more clearly seen how the member 50 dovetails within the slots of the bracket 40 As noted earlier, the arm 56 has an enlarged end portion 58 and an integral knob portion 60. When the pin 64 is screwed within the bore 54 of the member 50, the holding spring 68 pushes against the shoulder portion 67 of the pin 64 in one direction and against the bottom of bore 62 of the arm 56, thus holding the arm securely against the bracket 40. As seen more clearly in FIGURE 10, which is a view, partly in section, of the bracket 40 and the rear side of the enlarged portion 58 of arm 56 taken along lines 1010 of FIGURE 9, the enlarged portion 58 includes four integral shoulder portions 99, 91, 92 and 93 on the back side thereof extending outward from the center along the base of the arm.

The shoulder portions and 91 are aligned and extend in opposite directions from the center line, as do shoulder portions 92 and 93, the latter two being perpendicular to the former two. When the arm 56 is positioned as shown in FIGURES 6-9, the shoulder portions 90 and 91 can engage the bracket between the teeth 46 and 47, such as shown in FIGURES 9 and 10, to prevent any rotation of arm 56 relative to the bracket 40. The holding spring 68 causes the arm 56 to be urged into the bracket member 49 to engage the shoulder portions within the toothed section of the bracket. To move the arm 56 up and down the bracket to adjust the height of the arm for the babys feeding, the knob 60 is grasped with the third and fourth fingers and the thumb is placed on the end of the pin. 64, whereby the entire arm 56, enlarged end portion 58 and knob 60 are urged gently away from the bracket by pushing on the pin 64 and pulling on the knob 60. This compresses the holding spring and lifts the shoulder portions previously described out of the bracket teeth so that the arm may be moved up and down the bracket or rotated in relation thereto. If it is desired to move the arm up or down the bracket, the holding spring is held in the compressed positionuntil the desired location is reached, at which time it is released and the shoulder portions of the arm 56 engage the bracket teeth. In the event that the arm is to be rotated by 90 to where it is parallel with the bracket either in the upward or downward position, the same spring compression action is provided and the arm is rotated, whereby the shoulder portions 92 and 93 now engage the bracket teeth. The position of the arm 56 parallel to the bracket 40 is for the purpose of storing the infant seat or when the bottle holder is not in use, as will be described hereinafter.

Referring again to FIGURE 7 the arm 56 is provided on the other end thereof with a swivel joint comprised of the end portion 19 making a small angle with the main portion of the arm 56, and another separate member 18 for being attached thereto. The end portion 19 and member 18 are recessed to define partial spherical surfaces therewithin and together form opposing clamps. Another arm 14 having a ball 16 on one end thereof and a spring clamp 20 for holding the baby bottle on the other end thereof is held by the ball between the opposing clamps 18 and 19 of arms 56, wherein the ball forms a part of the swivel point. A permanent pin or rivet 78 is provided to hold the sections 18 and 19 together by inserting the pin through holes 73 and 74 provided in the sections, respectively. An adjustable tightening screw 76 is inserted through holes 77 and 78 provided in sections 18 and 19, respectively, and threaded in nut 79 for adjusting the tension between the sections for holding the ball and arm 14. Thus, a swivel joint is formed between the two arms 56 and 14 and the arm 14 may be rotated through a wide angle in relation to arm 56. Under normal feeding conditions, the arm 14 will form an angle of approximately 90 to arm 56 as more clearly seen in the functional position drawing of FIGURE 6.

In order to more clearly show the swivel joint, reference is had to FIGURES 11 and 12, which are, respectively, a plan view of the arms 56 and 14 looking down on the infant seat and a side view of the swivel joint.v The section 19 of arm 56 is bent outward to form an angle with the main body portion of the arm 56, and the section 18 is attached thereto in line with the outer portion 19. Arm 14 is shown in solid lines in its functional position, that is, in its position for holding the baby bottle for feeding.

When it is desired to store the infant seat or take the holding arms out of use, the arm 14 can be rotated within the swivel joint to the position shown in dashed lines so that arm 14 extends approximately parallel to arm 56. Without the section 19 of arm 56 being bent outward as shown, it would not be possible to rotate the arm to a parallel position.

The two arms 56 and 14 can be folded up to a storing position as shown in FIGURE 13 when the apparatus is not used for feeding. The arm 56 is rotated either upward or downward to a position parallel with the bracket 40 by compressing the holding spring 68 as previously described. The arm 14 is swiveled through an angle of approximately 270 from the feeding position to a position parallel with arm 56 as shown in FIGURE 13. Although the stored position has been illustrated only in conjunction with one embodiment, it will be appreciated that the arms of all of the embodiments are essentially the same and will fold up as shown in FIGURE 13.

The various components of the apparatus can be made of any desired material, although plastic composition of the major components is preferred. Moreover, suitable decorations to attract the infants attention, such as colored disks or the like can be attached to the arms if desired. Although one specific embodiment of a swivel joint has been described, other joints between the two arms can be provided which give a suitable amount of adjustment for feeding. Other changes and modifications that do not depart from the true scope of the invention will undoubtedly occur, and it is intended that the invention is limited only as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An infant feeding apparatus comprising;

(a) an infant seat having a bottom, back and sides for holding an infant therewithin along an incline with said bottom supporting said infant from sliding along said incline, said back supporting the infants back and head and said sides preventing said infant from substantial lateral movement,

(b) a slot formed in a side of said infant seat extending substantially parallel with said back,

(0) bolt means passing through said slot,

(d) a tightening nut threaded on said bolt means,

(e) a first arm coupled at one end between said side and said tightening nut for being held substantially parallel to said one side and extending beyond the front edge of said side,

(f) said bolt means, tightening nut and said first arm being movable along the length of said slot when said tightening nut is loosened, and

(g) a second arm coupled at one end to the other end of said first arm in swiveling relation therewith for extending laterally from said first arm in front of said infant seat,

(h) said second arm having a clamp for holding a bottle at the other end thereof.

2. An infant feeding apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first arm is free to rotate about said bolt means in a plane parallel to said side when said tightening nut is loosened, and said second arm can be swiveled to a position substantially parallel to said first arm.

3. An infant feeding apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said side of said infant seat includes a bracket with said slot formed in said bracket.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 897,034 8/ 1908 Turner 248103 1,501,080 7/ 1924 Wickham 248l02 1,634,162 6/1927 Tesk 248l02 1,671,085 5/ 1928 Nuernberg 248103 1,826,810 10/ 1931 Moroshita 248l02 1,900,691 3/ 1933 Carlson 248l02 2,043,287 7/ 1936 Dorton 29719l X 2,074,736 3/ 1937 Whitten 248103 2,951,531 9/ 1960 Dantes 297191 X 3,000,601 9/1961 Pedro 248106 3,006,688 10/ 1961 Ouellette 297-457 3,028,133 4/ 1962 Craig 248106 FOREIGN PATENTS 53 8,885 4/ 1957 Canada.

989,305 5/ 1951 France.

446,123 4/ 1936 Great Britain.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

J, T. MCCALL, Assistant Examiner, 

1. AN INFANT FEEDSING APPARATUS COMPRISING: (A) AN INFANT SEAT HAVING A BOTTOM, BACK AND SIDES FOR HOLDING AN INFANT THEREWITHIN ALONG AN INCLINE WITH SAID BOTTOM SUPPORTING SAID INFANT FROM SLIDING ALONG SAID INCLINE, SAID BACK SUPPORTING THE INFANT''S BACK SAND HEAD ON SAID SIDES PREVENTING SAID INFANT FROM SUBSTANTIAL LATERAL MOVEMENT, (B) A SLOT FORMED IN A SIDE OF SAID INFANT SEAT EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL WITH SAID BACK, (C) BOLT MEANS PASSING THROUGH SAID SLOT, (D) A TIGHTENING BUT THREADED ON SAID BOLT MEANS, (E) A FIRST ARM COUPLED AT ONE END BETWEEN SAID SIDE AND SAID TIGHTENING NUT FOR BEING HELD SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID ONE SIDE AND EXTENDING BEYOND THE FRONT EDGE OF SAID SIDE, (F) SAID BOLT MEANS, TIGHTENING NUT AND SAID FIRST ARM BEING MOVABLE ALONG THE LENGTH OF SAID SLOT WHEN SAID TIGHTENING NUT IS LOOSENED, AND (G) A SECOND ARM COUPLED AT ONE END TO THE OTHER END OF SAID FIRST ARM IN SWIVELING RELATION THEREWITH FOR EXTENDING LATERALLY FROM SAID FIRST ARM IN FRONT OF SAID INFANT SEAT, (H) SAID SECOND ARM HAVING A CLAMP FOR HOLDING A BOTTLE AT THE OTHER END THEREOF. 